Nova Scotia Opposition rails against latest power rate hike
Posted Nov 14, 2011 06:01:15 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One Liberal MLA says power rate hikes in Nova Scotia are “out of control.”
Nova Scotia Power has applied to the Utility and Review Board for a 3.2 per cent raise in residential rates in 2012 to cover an unpaid $70 million fuel bill from 2010 and 2011.
Andrew Younger says power rates have already gone up by 36 per cent over the last 10 years and tells News 95.7 the company should cover its fuel costs – not its customers.
“In any other company, if you hadn’t charge your customers enough the previous year, you’ve have to eat that and your shareholders would lose money,” Younger told Maritime Morning, Sunday.
Younger says it’s time for the Dexter government to step in and put a stop to power rate increases, noting Nova Scotia Power has applications for raises totalling 20 per cent over the next three years.
“It’s absolutely out of control. I regularly talk to residents who are having their power shut off, or having trouble making ends meet with their power,” he said. “Some of these people are working families, families who have jobs and they still can’t afford to pay the power bill.”
The Liberals are calling on the Dexter government to order a performance audit of NSP, while the Tories say they’ll introduce legislation this week to review rising power rates and explore ways to reduce them.
“We are on a steady path toward higher and higher power rates, encouraged by the government’s bite the bullet electricity plan,” said PC leader Jamie Baillie in a news release Sunday. “We must change direction, and fast. People can’t take anymore of this.”
The Tories are expected to bring forward the Power Rate Reduction Review Act, which would empower a panel of consumers, fully independent of government, to identify existing policies that contribute to the cost of power, then bring them forward for review by the Legislature.
